From Michael Ricciardi:

Re: Pot may be both good and bad, researchers say (Nov. 25): This is an intriguing report on Cannabis, insofar as it seems to contradict the medical truism that ‘the dose makes the poison’, meaning that the greater the dose, the greater the toxic effect, etc. The article asserts that HIGH dosages are therapeutic, but LOW dosages allow toxic effects to accumulate (and the report does state that the tested dosages were in fact lower that typical human dosages).

Curiously, the article does not mention endocannabinoids, which are naturally occurring neuro-transmitter precursors that are crucial to general neuro-transmission, and whose nerve cell receptors are plentiful in the brain (cannabinoids are primary, chemically active compounds found in marijuana).

Once again, it seems, Cannabis proves far more complex a substance that many have supposed.

And, classifying the drug remains problematic, as it can manifest different effects in different persons. For this reason, some have suggested classifying marijuana as an ‘adaptogen’.

Aside from this, I note that the report treats the drug in isolation from the popular ‘pharmacopia’; it does not draw comparisons with other drugs, whether medical or recreational. Other general studies show Cannabis (and Psilocybe) to be amongst the LEAST toxic substances (based upon comparisons of ‘effective dose to lethal dose’ ratios).

The researchers do not seem to allow consideration of ‘recreational use’ as a legitimate (if not wholly desirable) purpose for the drug.

To be sure, ALL drugs have SOME medicinal (or therapeutic) and deleterious qualities, and this fact warrants clinical study. But, one has to wonder, given the legality, social usage, and known physical effects (‘pharmacology’) of alcohol, why marijuana must be continuously subjected to such ‘serious’ investigations that, covertly, attempt to suggest social/public policy.